Selective character bearing device



Patented Nov. 19, 1940 PAT-ENT OFFFCE snmeo'rrvi: CHARACTER BEARINGnevica Harry R. Quant, Rochester, N. Y., assigner to -Hickok,'Manufacturing Company, Inc., Rochester, Nl Y., a corporationcf NewYork ApplicationAu'gustl, 1939, SeriallvNo. 290,768

9 Claims.

The present invention relates generally to character bearing devices foruse'in connection with many articles of merchandise and among others,jewelry, for the selective association and holding of initial letters,insignia, numerals, all

of which among others are comprehended under the term character,

It is well known that many `articles are now sold with provision for theholding of letters,

l0 numerals and insignia selected from a collection thereof, and appliedaccording to the particular purchaser at the time of purchase. Variousdevices have been proposed whereby at the time of sale the selected.characters may be readily inserted in a character holder forming a partof the article sold, sothat the character will thereafter be held-against accidental displacement and loss.

For various reasons, including the possibility of change of name orinsignia and carelessness of salesmen, it has been found highlydesirable to provide for change of the character after selection thereofand placement within the holder, and in proposingimprovements lin:character 225' bearing devices of this generalnature, it is one of theprimary objects of the invention Vto permit of ready, easy removal ofthe characters in a manner permitting reinsertion and relooking of thesame or different `characters precisely as the original characters wereinserted and locked.

Further and more specifically-it is an object of the present inventionto provide a construction in which the characters may be normally lockedin selected position and subsequently re- '35 leased and removed withoutmutilation of any.

portion of the characters themselves or the holders thereof and withoutin any way defacing,

.marring or endangering their free and eective reassemblage in the samemanner and by the same means as originally employed for their sectu'esupport.

A still further object is the provision of means by which the correctpositioning or orientng of a character in a character bearing holder isiny sured by the fact of the locking of suoh'characconstructionaffording the above advantages,

which is'equally useful in connection with horizontally andvertically'alined characters as well as those alined diagonally betweenthe vertical n and horizontal, and is also equally effective with-"'55out regard to the number of charactersv employed. With Vthese andotherobjects in view, andv with the understanding that the invention 'isrvcapable of various specific changes in form, sizeilO use and ornamentalfeatures, it is tolbe understood a concrete example thereof will be nowdescribed -in full in connection with the showing in the accompanyingdrawing illustrating the same and forming apart of this specication. 415

In the drawing: Figure 1 is a perspective View of a portion of a beltand its buckle showing the characters applied in vertically-alinedrelation on the latten Figure 2 is a perspective view of a chain tieclasp showing the characters alined yhorizontally o-n the pendantchain-supportedpanel or plate. Figure 3 is a detail horizontal sectionalView taken substantially on line 3 3 of Figure 1. v"25 Figuresv 4 and 5are similar vertical sectional views taken on line 4-4 of Figure 1,the'former showing the characters as normally locked and the lattershowing thereleasing memberinserted preparatory to removal of thecharacters. Figure 6 is a detail perspective Iview of the spring lockingplate.

Figure '7 is a similar view of the holder. Figure 8 is a rear elevationof one of thecharacters, removed. Figure 9 is a detail perspective Viewthereof, and

'Figure 10A is a detail perspective View ofthe releasingmember or bar.

Referring now to these iigures, t is to loe understood the invention isintended to be the same irrespective of 'the particular articlewithwhich it is employed, and inevery instance comprises a channel-shapedholder which, if used with a belt buckle A, as shown in ',Filgureslj,` 4and 5, is rigidly xed by hardsolder or in any other suitable mannertothe face of the buckle. Where it-'is used, 'as in Figure 2, on thechainsupported panel or plate B of a ch-ain tie clasp B, it may besimilarly fixed and in either use, as well as with key chains and otherarticles, the holdermay be'xedly mounted either vertically orhorizontally. f

.Thechannel-'shaped holder lit `is .seen most .plainlyinLFigure7,and.pre`ferably-has la flat Abase 55 II with outstanding flanges I2along its sides and these flanges terminate in inturned opposing angularedges I3 which are spaced from the base II and form therewith inwardlyopening guide channels. Preferably this holder is open at both ends asplainly seen in Figure 7, and is of a length substantially equal to thecombined widths of the characters it is to receive and hold.

Within the holder I0, and preferably secured fiatwise against the baseII thereof to form substantially an integral part, as by means of spotwelding or similarly rigid connecting means, is a locking plate I4 (seeFigure 6) which has an upset flange I5 at one end closing the respectiveend of the channel of the holder, and thus leaving but one end of theholder open for the reception of the characters. The use of this lockingplate is preferred rather than the formation of the locking tonguesdirectly in the bottom of the channel piece, inasmuch as the closing ofone end of the channel, which would otherwise be complicated, is thusrendered easy. At equi-distantly spaced points corresponding to thepositions of the several characters, the locking plate, which ispreferably formed of spring metal, has integra-l upwardly extendingspring locking fingers I6, all of which are similarly inclined towardthe end flange I5 and thus toward the closed end of the holder. All ofthese locking fingers I6 are readily and similarly yieldable intovflatwise positions in the plane of the body of the locking plate for areason which will presently appear.

The characters, whether letters, numerals, or

insignia of various natures as for instance colleges, military andsecret organizations, and shown at present as letters I'I, a-re eachformed to outstand from rectangular base pieces I8 of a width in bothdirections and a thickness, to slide into the channel of the holder.

Each of the characters Il is formed of a height and width less than thedistance between the inturned edgesl I3 of the holder which overlie theprojecting edges of the base pieces I8 and thus confine the characterswhether the latter are shifted horizontally or vertically within theholder.

Each of the base pieces I8 of the several characters has its rear orlower face provided with centrally disposed and crossing slots orgrooves I9 which are of similar widths somewhat less than the widths ofthe spring locking fingers I6. Thus, in any position in the channel orholder,

the grooves will present adjacent to their crossing points, shoulders oredges which, when engaged by the free ends of the locking fingers, willlock the characters in the holder. The crossing grooves I9, at rightangles to one another, thus adapt the characters to be similarly lockedin the manner described whether shifted vertically into a verticallydisposed holder as seen in Figure 1, or horizontally into a horizontallydisposed holder as in Figure 2.

Moreover, it is obvious that as disposed and locked in either direction,certain of the grooves I9 of the several locked characters aline withone another to form a continuous slot centrally of the holder andimmediately opposite the several actively engaged spring locking fingersI6, as plainly lseen in Figure 4. l

Thus by inserting in the slot, so formed, a releasing member or bar 29shown in Figure 10 for the full extent of the slot beneath the severalcharacter base pieces I8 in the mannerseen in Figure 5, it is plain thatsaid member 2U, formed to intert the grooves I9 will depress the severallocking fingers out of engagement with the walls or edges of the groovesso that the characters will be simultaneously released and may bewithdrawn from the open end of the holder by a sliding movement in areverse direction with relation to their movement into the holder.Obviously this holds true irrespective of the number of charactersemployed, and in a manner which, upon subsequent removal of thereleasing member 20, leaves the parts as originally formed, ready forthe subsequent insertion of the same or different characters in the samelocked relation.

Thus mistakes in the relative arrangement of the characters, or in thecharacters themselves, which so frequently happen in their hastyassemblage at busy times, may be easily and quickly rectified, withoutnecessitating the bending of more or less fragile metal and without thedanger of distorted parts, in an arrangement where, with the severalcharacters in assembled and locked positions, their fastenings areentirely concealed.

It also frequently happens that a character is shifted into the holderwhen turned to a position at right angles to that it is intended toassume, and in such instances in order to avoid the slight delayattending the use of the releasing member 20, it is proposed that theedges or walls of the grooves I9 of the base pieces I8 may, as best seenin Figure 9, be cut away along inclines at two sides as at 2| so thatwhen thus wrongly inserted the characters will not lock and may beinstantly removed for reinsertion in proper positions. Thus in anyinstance where, upon insertion of a character, it does not lock againstwithdrawal, the one assembling the characters will be at once apprisedof the fact that the character is improperly oriented.

The grooves I9 of the several characters may, of course, be eitherrectangular or semi-cylindrical with or without the cutaway and inclinedportions above mentioned; and in any event, the

releasing member 2D will be shaped to interfit the same, and ispreferably provided at one end with a portion 22 of any suitable form,serving as a. handle to promote easy and effective manipulation thereofin the manner previously described.

What is claimed is:

1. A channel-shaped character holder having a'flat base, a plurality ofequi-distantly and 1ongitudinally spaced, similar, spring fingerssupported on and projecting upwardly from the base along the centralportion of the same, a series of substantially rectangular charactermembers slidable longitudinally in one direction into the holder andhaving intersecting cross grooves extending substantially at rightangles to each other in the bases thereof facing the holder base andpresenting locking edges adjacent their junctures for engagement by thespring fingers to lock the character members within the holder in eitherof two selected positions of orientation.

2. A character bearing device comprising a holder having a channel andmeans closing said channel at one end and also having similarly upwardlyprojecting spring ngers spaced apart along the central portion of itschannel and inclined toward its closed end, and character membersslidable into the channel of the holder at its opposite end and havinggrooves in the bases thereof coextensive with the length of the membersin the direction in which they are inserted into the holder andshoulders formed within the grooves engageable by said spring ngers tolock the members in the holder.

3. A character bearing device comprising a holder having a channel andmeans closing said channel at one end and also having similarly upwardlyprojecting spring fingers spaced apart along the central portion of itschannel and inclined toward its closed end, character members slidableinto the channel of the holder at its opposite end and having grooves inthe bases thereof, shoulders disposed within said grooves and engageableby said spring iingers, said grooves being arranged in crossing relationon each character member and of less width than the spring fingers inthe end regions thereof, and certain of said grooves being alined withthe series of fingers and with one another to form a continuous slotbeneath the character members, and a releasing member slidably movableinto and throughout said slot for forcing the spring lingers out of thegrooves.

4. A channel-shaped character holder having a flat base, a plurality ofequi-distantly and longitudinally spaced, similar, spring iingerssupported on and projecting upwardly from the base along the centralportion of the same, character members slidable into said channel andhaving grooves which receive the said locking means, locking abutmentsformed in said grooves and designed for engagement with the lockingmeans,

Asaid grooves forming a continuous slot in alignment with the lockingmeans, and a releasing member slidable into said slot throughout itslength and operable to depress the spring locking means out of therst-named grooves of the character members.

5. A channel-shaped character holder having a iiat base, a plurality ofequi-distantly and 1ongitudinally spaced, similar, spring fingerssupported on and projecting upwardly from the base along the centralportion of the same, character members having base pieces slidable insaid channel and each provided with grooves crossing one another attheir centers and of less Width than said ngers, the sides of certain ofsaid grooves being formed with recesses for receiving the 1ingerswhereby to lock the character members Within the channel and the othergrooves forming a continuous slot below. the said members and above theseveral locking fingers, and a releasing member slidably intertting saidslot and shiftable therein beneath the character members forsimultaneously forcing the said locking fingers out of engagement withthe first-named grooves of the character members.

6. In combination, a holder, spring locking fingers supported on andinclined upwardly and outwardly from a portion of the holder and in aline therealong, and character members having grooves in portionsthereof, shoulders disposed within the grooves designed for lockingengagement by said locking ngers When the members are inserted in theholder in one position of orientation to prevent removal of the membersfrom the holder in one direction, and slideways disposed in the groovesand inclined upwardly from the bottoms of the grooves in said directionto permit removal of the members in said direction when the latter areinserted into the holder in a reversed position of orientation.

7. A channel-shaped character holder having 4a flat base, a spring ngersupported on and projecting outwardly from the base in the centralregion of the same, and character members slidable in the channel andeach having centrally crossing grooves extending at right angles to eachother, a shoulder disposed within each groove to receive the springfingers thereagainst when the character members are oriented crosswiseor lengthwise of the holder.

8. A channel-shaped character holder having a flat base, a spring fingersupported on and projecting outwardly from the base in the centralregion of the same, a character member slidable longitudinally into theholder and having grooves formed in the base thereof facing the channelof the holder and extending at right angles to each other, a shoulderformed in each groove and extending transversely thereof adjacent thejuncture of the grooves and presenting locking edges for engagement bysaid spring finger to lock the character member within the holder whenthe latter is inserted therein so as to be oriented crosswise orlengthwise.

9. A character bearing device comprising a holder having a channel andalso having an upwardly extending spring linger supported on andprojecting upwardly from the channel of the holder, a character memberslidable into the channel of the holder and having grooves in the basethereof presenting shoulders engageable by said spring finger, saidgrooves being arranged in crossing relation and being of less width thanthe Width of the spring finger, and certain of said grooves beingaligned opposite the linger to form a continuous slot beneath thecharacter member, and a releasing member slidably movable into andthrough said slot for forcing the spring nger out of the grooves topermit removal of the character member from the holder.

HARRY R. QUANT.

